Monthly Archives: January 2016

In the Acknowledgements section of the Newbery award-winning The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaimon writes:

First, foremost, and forever: I owe an enormous debt, conscious and, I have no doubt, unconscious, to Rudyard Kipling and the two volumes of his remarkable work The Jungle Book. I read them as a child, excited and impressed, and I’ve read and reread them many times since. If you are only familiar with the Disney cartoon, you should read the stories.

And we will read those stories in time to see the movie being released in theaters this April. What about the Gaimon’s modern story inspired by those classics? We began with a read aloud this morning during Book Club and everyone listening was hooked.

Please find a copy of both The Graveyard Book and The Jungle Book* from your local library or preferred bookseller as soon as you can.

* Because The Jungle Book is a classic originally published in 1894 and a second book in 1895, there are many possible editions: Unabridged or abridged, illustrated or not, hardcopy or digital, print or ebook, containing both books or just one. I would encourage you to find one you think best fits your learning style and reading level. If you want assistance, please contact Ms. Andria at 325-0203×128 or andria@rsufsd.org. The edition that I will be using (see review below) was chosen simply because it was there, but, again, please choose one that feels right to you.

Overview

From Follett

Presents the three adventures of Mowgli, a young boy raised by the animals in an Indian jungle, as well as other animal stories and songs. Includes discussion questions and explanatory notes.

From the Publisher

Children will delight in this unabridged version of Rudyard Kipling’s classics, Jungle Books One and Two! Not only does this attractive volume feature the beloved tales of Mowgli, the “man cub” raised by wolves, and Rikki Tikki Tavi, but also the lesser-known but wonderful stories of Toomai, the boy who gets to see elephants dance; Quiquern, who saves his Eskimo people from starvation; and Kotick, the white seal.

Full-Text Reviews

Horn Book Guide (Fall 2008)

These classic stories are presented in unabridged formats. A handful of scratchboard illustrations in addition to a repeating chapter heading spot illustration accompany each story. A ribbon bookmark is attached. The books conclude with some generic open-ended questions. [Review includes these titles: The Jungle Book, Frankenstein, Gulliver’s Travels, and Journey to the Center of the Earth.]

Ps. Our book for March/April will definitely be “The Jungle Book” by Rudyard Kipling. It is a classic collection of short stories that inspired author Neil Gaimon’s Newbery Award Winner, The Graveyard Book.